Helina Robineau-desvoidy, 1830

Diagnosis to Helina species of Andean-Patagonian forests. Black species, with grey or brownish-yellow pollinosity [except H. viola with metallic blue color]; presutural acrostichal setae differentiated; dorsocentral setae 2+3-4; prealar present; katepisternal setae 2+2; prosternum and anepimeron bare; veins bare; lower calypter glossiform; legs black, yellow or black and yellow; fore tibia with 1 or 2 median setae on posterior surface; calcar absent.

To avoid lengthy and redundant descriptions, the characters listed below, present in all species of Helina described in this article, will not be repeated in each description. Male. Head: frontal vitta black; gena with black setae; inner vertical setae convergent and outer vertical setae divergent; antenna in lateral view inserted at the midlevel of the eye; palpus filiform. Thorax: intra-alar setae 1+2; supra-alar setae 1+2; notopleuron bare; scutellum with long and strong lateral and apical setae; proepisternals 2, the anterior one smaller; proepimerals 2; katepisternals 2+2; anepimeron, katepimeron and meron bare; prosternum bare. Wing: veins bare; lower calypter glossiform; halter and knob yellow. Abdomen: Sternite 1 bare. Female. Head: interfrontal cruciate setae absent. Terminalia: intersegmental membrane without microtrichiae. Tergites 6 and 7 divided into 2 enlarged parallel scletotized plates. Sternites 6 and 7 with one central plate; sternite 8 with 2 parallel sclerotized plates, with setulae on the distal margin. Three spermathecae.